JPH07143340A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To omit a sensor witch is exclusively used for correction of colors and to improve the efficiency of a color image scanner by putting the image scanner close onto the front face of a display screen to read the color image data shown on the screen and correcting colors shown on a display device based on the image data. CONSTITUTION:When a reflection color display E6 is used, a standard image of the display E6, e.g., the reflected light of a white screen and a reference original or the reflected light of a white original is previously read by a scanner E7. Then the voltage of an illumination light source E8 is decided so that the brightness of the light reflected on the display E6 is equal to the brightness of the light reflected on the original. When a display E6 of a transmission type is used, the voltage of the illumination light source E8 is set at 0, that is, the source E8 is not turned on and the light emitted from the display E6 is read.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image scanner for reading a color original and an image processing apparatus having a color display device for displaying a color image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, due to the improvement in the processing capability of small digital computers such as personal computers, applications for handling color digital images on computers have been increasing.

A color image scanner is one of typical devices used for digitizing a color image and loading it into a computer. When a color original is scanned with a color image scanner and displayed on a color display, the color tones of the color original and the displayed image often differ. This is partly due to incorrect color matching on the color display. Is.

In such a case, it is necessary to correct the color of the color display. Generally, an apparatus for reading the color of an image displayed on a color display and automatically performing color correction has been developed, but a dedicated sensor is used for reading the display.

Further, the conventional display color correction device is
Since the system had no means for detecting that the sensor was attached to the front of the display, it was necessary to manually enter the color correction mode when performing color correction.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional color correction device for a color display, even in a system having a color image scanner, a dedicated color sensor must be used to perform color correction for the color display. Because it had to be used, the efficiency of use of the device was poor, resulting in high costs.

In general, an image scanner for reading a document is constructed so that the built-in light source illuminates the document and reads its reflected light.

[0008] On the other hand, the display device includes a device such as a reflective liquid crystal display that reflects external light, and a CR device.
It can be roughly classified into a type that emits light by itself such as a T-type or a transmissive liquid crystal display with a backlight and forms an image by the transmitted light.

Therefore, when an image scanner for reading a document and an image scanner for reading a display are intended to be used in common, when reading a reflective display, both the document and the display may be made to emit light from the built-in light source of the scanner. However, if the same scanning operation is performed both when reading the display and when reading the display, the brightness of the read image may differ due to the difference between the reflectance of the document and the reflectance of the display.

In the case of a transmissive display, if the built-in light source emits light when reading the display, the transmitted light from the display and the reflected light from the built-in light source are mixed. As a result, light of a color different from the color emitted by the display is read, and data usable for color correction cannot be obtained.

Further, in the conventional automatic color correction apparatus for a display, since the system has no means for detecting that the sensor is mounted on the front surface of the display, when the color is corrected, the sensor is first mounted on the front surface of the display, and then the color correction apparatus is mounted on the front surface of the display. It was inconvenient because I had to manually enter the color correction mode.

Therefore, in view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to appropriately, accurately and easily display a color display screen in an information processing apparatus having a color image scanner for reading a color original and a color display device for displaying a color image. An object is to provide an image processing device capable of performing correction.

[0013]

To achieve the above object, in an information processing apparatus having a color image scanner for reading a color original document and a color display device for displaying a color image, the color image scanner is used for the color display device. The color correction means for correcting the color of the color display device by using the color image data by reading the color image data displayed on the screen in close contact with the front surface of the display screen.

In addition, a means for changing the brightness of a document illumination light source built in the color image scanner in at least two steps is provided, and when the color document is read, the built-in light source of the scanner is used for reading the document. When the color image scanner is set to the brightness and emits light, and the color image scanner is brought into close contact with the front surface of the screen of the color display device to read the display screen, the built-in light source of the scanner is set to an appropriate brightness for reading the display screen. It is possible to set and emit light.

Further, in addition to the above, a means for turning off a light source for illuminating an original document built in the color image scanner is provided, and when the color original document is read, the internal light source of the scanner is caused to emit light to read the original document. When the display screen is read by bringing the color image scanner into close contact with the front surface of the screen of the color display device, the light source with the built-in scanner can be turned off.

Alternatively or additionally, a coordinate position input device is provided on the front surface of the display screen of the color display device, and a mechanism for instructing the coordinate position input device on the front surface of the display screen is provided on the reading surface side of the color image scanner. When the color image scanner is brought into close contact with the front surface of the display screen, the coordinate input device instructing mechanism may instruct the coordinate input device to detect the coordinates and enter the color correction mode.

[0017]

According to the above configuration of the present invention, when the image scanner is mounted on the front surface of the display screen, the color image data displayed on the screen can be read and the color correction of the display device can be performed using this data.

In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, when the scanner is not mounted on the front surface of the display screen, when the document is read, the built-in light source of the scanner is set to the brightness for reading the document to emit light, and when the display is read. Can set the light source with a built-in scanner to the brightness at the time of reading the display to emit light.

Further, the image processing device according to the present invention is
When reading a document, the built-in light source of the scanner is made to emit light to read the document, and when the scanner is brought into close contact with the front surface of the display screen and the display is read, the light source built in the scanner can be turned off.

Alternatively, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, when the image scanner is mounted on the front surface of the display screen,
The coordinate input device instructing mechanism instructs the coordinate input device to detect the coordinates and automatically enter the color correction mode.

[0021]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, each example of the present invention will be described in detail.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, E1 is a control unit for controlling the operation of the entire embodiment. In this control unit E1, E
A CPU 2 executes various applications and controls various devices. E3 is a ROM in which a control program for the apparatus (including the control procedure shown in FIG. 3) and the like are stored. E4 is a RAM, which stores programs and data for performing various calculations and processes for controlling the apparatus.

E5 is a color display signal output device, which converts the color digital data inside the device into a signal to be displayed on the display.

E6 is a color display, which displays a color image and various information of this system.

E7 is a color image scanner. E8 is an illumination light source built in the color image scanner.

Reference numeral E9 denotes a voltage control device, which is an illumination light source E8.
The voltage supplied to is changed according to the control signal from the control unit E1.

A key input device E10 is used by the user to instruct the operation of the device.

FIG. 2 is an external structural view of the image processing apparatus according to this embodiment.

In FIG. 2, M1 is a color display. M2 is an information processing apparatus main body.

M3 is a color image scanner. In the figure, the color sensor surface faces downward, and the user can read the original by placing the color original on the upper side and scanning the color original with the color scanner.
When reading the display, make sure that the color sensor side is close to the display surface.

M4 is a key input device.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the image reading operation of the color image scanner.

In FIG. 3, step S1 (hereinafter, the word "step" is omitted) is the start of the image reading procedure.

In step S2, it is determined whether the color correction mode is set. The mode is instructed by the user from the key input device E10 of FIG. 1, whereby the flag bit indicating the color correction mode in the RAM (E4) is set,
By checking this bit, it is determined whether or not the color correction mode is set.

In step S3, the image is read when the color correction mode is not set. That is, it is the reading of an original, and the image is read by causing the built-in illumination light source of the color image scanner E8 to emit light without changing from a predetermined voltage. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the illumination light source voltage is preset to the voltage for reading the original. When the document reading operation is finished here, the procedure proceeds to S9, and the present procedure is finished.

Step S4 is a process for changing the voltage of the illumination light source E8 incorporated in the color image scanner. The voltage control device E9 changes its output voltage to a predetermined value according to a control signal from the control unit E1. Specifically, it is realized by a voltage controlled variable resistor (not shown). Further, the voltage value differs depending on whether the display is the reflective display or the transmissive display described above.

When the display is a reflection type, a standard image of a display to be used in advance, for example, a reflected light on a white screen and a standard document, for example, a reflected light of a white document are read by a scanner and reflected from the display. The voltage of the illumination light source may be determined so that the brightness of light becomes equal to the brightness of light reflected from the original.

When the display is a transmissive type, the illumination light source voltage value is set to 0, that is, the illumination light source is not turned on and the light emitted by the display is read.

Step S5 is an image reading process of the display with the illumination light after the illumination light source voltage is changed. Before performing this process, the user needs to bring the color image scanner M3 shown in FIG. 2 into close contact with the display screen of the color display M1.

In step S6, it is determined whether color correction has been completed. The difference between the color digital data read from the color image scanner and the color digital data used for display on the color display is calculated, and if the difference value is smaller than a predetermined value, it is determined that color correction is completed,
Proceed to S8.

S7 is a color adjustment process. The color display signal output device E5 shown in FIG. 1 adjusts the RGB signals to the display device so that the color error becomes small. afterwards,
The process proceeds to S5, the image is read, and these processes are repeated until the end condition of S6 is satisfied. In addition, the value used for the end determination at this time is, in other words, the color error of the color display display. If a large value is used, the error becomes large and does not make sense for color correction. Since the number of times S5, S6, and S7 are repeated until the end condition of is satisfied is increased, an appropriate value is selected by experiment.

In step S8, the illumination light source voltage changed in step S4 is returned to the original value.

S9 is the end of this process.

By executing the control procedure described above, the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be realized.

Embodiment 2 In the above-described first embodiment, when executing color correction, the user must mount the color image scanner on the display screen of the color display and start the color correction program by himself. When the color image scanner is mounted on the display, even if the color correction is limited, it is troublesome and inconvenient to manually start the color correction program.

On the other hand, the information processing apparatus is provided with a coordinate position input device such as a touch panel on the front of the display screen so that the user can instruct and operate the information processing apparatus by touching the screen. What has been done is known.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, a coordinate position input device is provided on the front surface of the display of the first embodiment, and a mechanism for instructing the coordinate input device is provided on the sensor surface side of the color image scanner. When the coordinate input device is instructed by, the color image scanner detects that it is mounted on the display screen, and enters the color correction mode.

An image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, E11 is a control unit. E
12 is a CPU. E13 is a ROM that stores the control procedure shown in FIG. E14 is a RAM.

E15 is a color display signal output device.
E16 is a color display. E17 is a color image scanner. E18 is an illumination light source built in the color image scanner.

E19 is a voltage control device. E20 is a key input device. E21 is a coordinate position input device.

As described above, E11 to E20 are similar to E1 to E10 of FIG. 1 of the first embodiment except E17. E
The color image scanner 17 is different from that of the first embodiment in that it has an E21 coordinate input device pointing mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an external structural view showing the color image scanner in this embodiment.

In FIG. 5, M11 is a color image scanner body.

M12 is a slit for reading an image and for passing the original illumination light. When reading a document and reading a reflective display, the illumination light from the illumination light source built in the scanner is emitted from this slit to capture the reflected light. When reading a transmissive display, the light emitted by the display is captured.

M13 is a roller. In general, a handy scanner detects the distance moved on a document by rotating this roller and captures an image. In this embodiment, four rollers are used.
This roller is also used as the pointing mechanism of the coordinate position input device installed in front of the display.

M14 is a connection cable to the main body of the information processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a procedure for detecting, by the coordinate position input means, that the color image scanner is in close contact with the front surface of the display.

In FIG. 6, S10 is the start of this procedure. It is started when an input is generated in the coordinate input means.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not four points have been input to the coordinate input means. If four points have been input, the process proceeds to S12. If four points have not been input, S14
Go to. In this embodiment, since an image scanner having four rollers as a mechanism for instructing the coordinate input means is used, the judgment is made by inputting four points. The number of input points to be determined here changes according to the number of pointing points of the coordinate input means instructing mechanism provided in the image scanner, and in the case of three, the determination is made by inputting three points.

The coordinate input device of this embodiment is also used as a means for the user to operate the information processing device. Since the user points the display with a finger or the like, the coordinate input is usually one point at a time, and it is virtually impossible to point three or four points at the same time. Therefore, in this embodiment, the color correction mode is entered when a multipoint instruction is detected in order to distinguish it from the normal operation single point instruction. As an example, four points are selected in this embodiment.

In step S12, it is determined whether the detected positional relationship between the coordinate input points is equal to the distance between the rollers of the scanner. This is done in S11 in order to surely detect whether or not the scanner is properly attached to the display, although all but the four-point input are removed. When the detected inter-coordinate distance is correct, the process proceeds to S13. If the detected inter-coordinate distance is not correct, it is determined that an illegal input has been made, the process proceeds to S15, and this procedure ends.

In S13, it is determined that the color image scanner is in close contact with the front surface of the display, and the color correction mode is entered. Specifically, the flag bit indicating the color correction mode is set, the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is called, and the color correction is executed.

In step S14, a coordinate input process using a normal touch panel is performed. That is, processing for calling each application is performed according to the input coordinate points.

In step S15, this process ends.

In the control procedure described above, the user can shift to the color correction mode and perform color correction simply by bringing the scanner into close contact with the display surface.

By executing the control procedure described above, the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention can be realized.

[0070]

By implementing the present invention, the effects listed below can be obtained.

In an information processing device having a color image scanner for reading a color original and a color display device for displaying a color image or the like, the image scanner is brought into close contact with the front surface of the display screen to read the color image data displayed on the screen, and the data By performing color correction of the display device by using, you do not need a sensor dedicated to color correction,
The use efficiency of the color image scanner can be improved.

Further, a means for changing the brightness of the light source for illuminating the original document built in the scanner having the above-described structure is provided in at least two steps, and when the document is read, the internal light source of the scanner is set to the brightness for reading the original document. When reading the display with the scanner in close contact with the front of the display screen, set the light source with built-in scanner to the brightness for reading the display and let the light emit. When the reflective display is read, the light source emits light, and the light source emits light with the brightness for the display, so it is possible to read the image with uniform brightness on both the original and the display, and use it for color correction. Accurate color data can be obtained.

Further, there is provided means for turning off the light source for illuminating the original document incorporated in the scanner having the above-mentioned structure, and when the original document is read, the internal light source of the scanner is caused to emit light to read the original document, and the scanner is brought into close contact with the front surface of the display device screen. By turning off the light source built in the scanner when reading the display by turning off the light source when reading the transmissive display, you can read the light emitted by the display. It is possible to obtain accurate color data for use in color correction that is not affected by.

Further, in addition to the information processing apparatus having the above-described configuration, a coordinate position input device is provided on the front surface of the display screen, and a mechanism for instructing the coordinate position input device on the front surface of the display screen is provided on the reading surface side of the image scanner to obtain an image. When the scanner is brought into close contact with the front surface of the display screen, the coordinate input device pointing mechanism instructs the coordinate input device to detect the coordinates,
By entering the color correction mode, the user does not have to manually switch to the color correction mode.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external structural view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an image reading control procedure in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an external structural view of a color image scanner according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for detecting the close contact of a color image scanner with a display in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 E1 control unit E2 CPU E3 ROM E4 RAM E5 Color display signal output device E6 Color display E7 Color image scanner E8 Illumination light source built into the color image scanner E9 Voltage control device E10 Key input device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G06F 15/64 310 7251-5C H04N 1/04 D

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus having a color image scanner for reading a color original document and a color display device for displaying a color image, wherein the color image scanner is closely displayed on the front surface of the display screen of the color display device. An image processing apparatus comprising a color correction unit that reads color image data to perform color correction of the color display device using the color image data. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing the brightness of a document illumination light source built in the color image scanner in at least two stages, and the scanner of the color document is read when the color document is read. When the built-in light source is set to the brightness for reading an original and emits light, while the color image scanner is brought into close contact with the screen front surface of the color display device to read the display screen, the built-in light source of the scanner is read on the display screen. An image processing apparatus, which is configured to emit light after being set to an appropriate brightness for time. 3. The original according to claim 1, further comprising means for turning off a light source for illuminating an original document incorporated in the color image scanner, and when the color original document is read, the internal light source of the scanner is caused to emit light. On the other hand, when the display screen is read by bringing the color image scanner into close contact with the front surface of the screen of the color display device, the light source with the built-in scanner is turned off. 4. The coordinate position input device according to claim 1, further comprising a coordinate position input device on a front surface of a display screen of the color display device, and indicating a coordinate position input device on the front surface of the display screen on a reading surface side of the color image scanner. When the color image scanner is brought into close contact with the front surface of the display screen, the coordinate input device instructing mechanism instructs the coordinate input device to detect the coordinates and enter the color correction mode. A characteristic image processing device.